HILDA TENANT OF THE FLAT

MIN HER FRIEND AND NEIGHBOUR

MATHILDA HILDA'S OLDER SISTER

MAGGIE WILSON NEIGHBOUR

DORIS HANCY NEIGHBOUR

THE SCENE IS THE KITCHEN OF A FLAT IN A POOR PART OF LONDON THE DATE IS NOVEMBER 1918. THERE IS A TABLE WITH 2 CHAIRS, ALSO A SIDEBOARD. ANOTHER TABLE COVERED WITH A BLANKET AND SHEET ON WHICH STANDS AN OLD FASHIONED FLAT IRON AND A PILE OF KHAKI GARMENTS COVERED WITH A SHEET. ARMCHAIRS AND OTHER ITEMS OF FURNITURE, PLUS ORNAMENTS AND A MIRROR ON THE SIDEBOARD AS AVAILABLE TO MAKE THE SET LOOK HOMELY. THERE IS A PHOTOGRAPH OF A YOUNG MAN DRESSED AS A SOLDIER. ON THE TABLE

COSTUME

HILDA'S CLOTHES ARE DULL AND SHABBY, A LONG BLACK SKIRT WITH A BLOUSE HIGH TO THE NECK, PERHAPS FASTENED WITH A REGIMENTAL BROOCH. THICK BLACK STOCKINGS OR TIGHTS, HER HAIR PULLED BACK INTO A BUN OR SIMILAR STYLE.

MIN'S CLOTHES SIMILAR TO HILDA'S

MATHILDA DRESSED RATHER MORE FUSSILY AND FLASHILY, LONG SKIRT MAYBE A RICHER COLOUR, BLOUSE AND JACKET. THE HAT IS A BASIC SHAPE LAVISHLY TRIMMED WITH RIBBONS AND FLOWERS., THE MORE OUTRAGEOUS THE BETTER.

MRS. WILSON AND MRS. HANCY DRESSED IN THE SAME DRAB FASHION AS HILDA, MAYBE WITH LONG APRONS COVERING THE SKIRTS

MEN'S SHIRTS MAKE IDEAL BLOUSES, WITH THE SLEEVES ROLLED UP AND THE COLLARS TURNED OVER AND FASTENED WITH A BROOCH.

PACKETS OF FOOD , TRAY WITH TEA CUPS, PLATES, BREAD AND BUTTER AND MARMALADE ETC. LETTER AND CARD.

NOISES OFF, WHISTLES AND TAPES OF CROWD NOISES. (THESE MAY OFTEN BE OBTAINED ON LOAN FROM PUBLIC LIBRARIES) A TAPE RECORDER WITH MUSIC OF THE TIME, PLAYED AT THE START AND END OF THE PLAY WILL HELP TO SET THE SCENE.